San Francisco Car Accident Lawyers
What to Do after an Accident

San Francisco auto accidents occur almost daily, and when they do the immediate aftermath can be all at once terrifying and overwhelming, particularly for someone who has been injured by someone else.  While anyone who has been injured because of someone else’s negligence should seek the help of San Francisco car accident lawyers as soon as possible, taking certain steps immediately following a crash can be of help to those who have been wronged in several ways.  Below are some ideas to consider for those who have been harmed in an accident.

Get to Safety

After a collision, the first step you need to take is to make sure that you and any passengers in your vehicle are safe.  If you’re able to do so, move your vehicle off to the side of the road and out of the way of oncoming traffic.  If you cannot move your vehicle, try to get yourself out of harm’s way.

Contact the Police

After you’ve moved to safety, your next step should be to contact the police.  Do not assume that someone else will do this for you.  When you call 911, tell the dispatcher where you’re located, whether you think an ambulance should be sent and provide your name and vehicle description.  You will need the help of police for many reasons, including the generation of a police report that provides a description of what occurred.

Exchange Information

After you’ve contacted the police, cautiously approach the other driver.  If he or she seems civil and reasonable, offer to exchange contact information and insurance coverage information.  However, if the other driver is agitated and seems unapproachable, do not make contact and instead wait for the police.  Regardless of the other person’s mental state, do not under any circumstances debate the cause of the accident.  Simply offer to exchange information and provide your side of the story to the police.

Seek Medical Attention

After the police have arrived and done their job, you should seek medical attention even if you feel that your injuries are minor.  Some serious injuries do not manifest themselves immediately, and you will need a record of your injuries should you decide to pursue a legal claim.  If you can, get copies of these records so that your San Francisco car accident lawyers can review them, but do not be concerned if you don’t remember to obtain these documents, as your attorney can obtain them if you decide to move forward with a claim.

Contact Experienced San Francisco Car Accident Lawyers

Ultimately, your first priority after a car accident should be to protect the safety of you and anyone else in your vehicle.  Your second priority should be to preserve your legal rights, and you can take this step by contacting San Francisco car accident lawyers with years of experience in successfully fighting for the rights of injured clients.  Contact the Scarlett Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.